Afternoon Arias
New Town Church, Fringe Venue 111, 14/8/2026
Brian Bannatyne-Scott (bass), Beth Taylor (mezzo soprano), Catherine Hooper (soprano), Magnus Walker (tenor), Jonathan Forbes Kennedy (baritone), Michal Gajzler (piano)
Our good colleague on the Edinburgh Music Review (EMR), Brian Bannatyne-Scott has for several years presented afternoon concerts as part of the Edinburgh Fringe, featuring first class operatic singing and showcasing the work of respected colleagues and rising stars. Drawing on his deep experience of operatic singing and his ten years as Honorary Professor of Singing at St Andrews University, Brian does what good teachers of talented people do. He identifies outstanding talent, nurtures it and promotes it. Without presuming any kind of exclusive role, Beth Taylor, the Scottish mezzo-soprano, has been one of Brian’s success stories. She has performed and impressed regularly in Brian’s concerts, at the same time successfully building an impressive career in Europe, weathering the frustrations of Covid and post-Brexit bureaucracy in doing so, issues she documented in an extended interview with Brian for the EMR in August 2021.
Here hot on the heels of a triumphant EIF debut at the Queen’s Hall on August 11th, she led an afternoon of French arias with real poise and expression, singing Cassandra’s warning before the denouement of the Battle of Troy (‘Les Grecs ont disparu’, from Berlioz’ ‘LesTroyens’). She made it sound easy – something it undoubtedly is not. She was joined by Brian and his still powerful bass voice, singing the Ghost of Hector, also ‘LesTroyens’. They were accompanied, as was the whole concert, by Michal Gajzler, a long standing partner in Brian’s concerts and part of the ‘glue’ that holds them together.
Then in turn a trio of young but already successful Scottish rising stars, who were in some ways the real revelation of this afternoon. I had not heard Catherine Hooper before, but will be looking out for her in future – a strong and melodic soprano, she thrilled us with two beautiful arias, Marguerite’s Jewel Song from Gounod’s ‘Faust’ and Micaëla’s aria from Bizet’s ‘Carmen’. Great material which she did full justice to! I have heard Magnus Walker at least twice before and always look forward to hearing more. A very pleasant expressive tenor and a good actor Magnus’s rendition of Nadir’s aria from Bizet’s ‘Pearl Fishers’ was the kind of singing one loses oneself in. I wrote ‘Brilliant!’ on my programme notes and have nothing more to add. Magnus was well matched by the afternoon’s baritone, Jonathan Forbes Kennedy, who sang Zurga’s aria from ‘The Pearl Fishers’. Jonathan has a lovely baritone voice, powerful but passionate and tender, a pleasure to listen to. The two of them, Magnus and Jonathan, concluded the concert with the famous duet from ‘The Pearl Fishers’. I am not going to attempt technical comparisons I’m not qualified to make with the great ‘duos’ who have sung this duet. Sufficient to say it was as enjoyable as any of them!
After attending Brian’s concerts for at least five years and enjoying all of them, I can only say that this entire concert was the best I remember. It is tempting to say that Beth Taylor’s success has inspired her colleagues, but that would downplay the intrinsic excellence of those colleagues. The talent has been there for anyone who looks to find for several years. All it needs is confidence and expert curation, and yes a little bit of Beth’s stardust doesn’t go amiss.